Inclosed fused switch



2 Sheets-Sheet l x I r II J. SACHS INCLOSED FUSED SWITCH Filed July 18, 1927 c/bseph 550/75 1 6 a I lI- ll July 16, 1929.

Fry

Patented Jul 16, 1929.

- UNITED STATES JOSEPH SACHS, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

INCLOSED FUSED swn'cn.

Application filed July. 18, 1927. Serial No. 206,734.

The invention relates particularly to an inclosed fused switch having the fuse contacts and the switch parts arranged to be respectively accessible and inaccessible through an opening in the front cover or wall of the inclosing cabinet, having an auxiliary cover for closing the opening in the front wall and normally preventing access-to the fuse contacts, and having a movable element arranged in interlocking relationship with the auxiliary cover and with the switch operating handle. An inclosed fused switch embodying the present invention is in some respects similar to that disclosed in my copending application for. Inclosed fused switches. Serial No.

709,943 filed April 30, 19.24. The said application discloses an inclosed fused switch having an openable front cover with an opening therein and a laterally movable auxiliary cover for the opening having two positions, one being a normal closed position, and the other being a laterally projecting position. In its normal position the auxiliary cover is directly obstructed against lateral movement by means of the switch handle and in its projecting position the auxiliary cover directly obstructs the switch handle against movement to switch closing position.

The result of this construction is that the auxiliary cover must move laterally through a distance suflicient to permit the said cover to entirely expose the opening in the main cover. In some cases, particularly for switches of the larger sizes, this extensive lateral movement of the cover is objectionable as it subjects the projecting port-ion thereof to possible injury and as it prevents the close horizontal spacing of two or more switches.

One of the objects of the present invention,

40 is to provide an improved inclosed fused 7 switch having an interlocking element separate from the auxiliary cover and having a relatively small range of movement to lock and unlock the cover, the actual opening of the cover being effected by a movement supplemental to the movement of the interlocking element.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improved structural features whereby the foregoing major advantages and other secondary advantages are obtained.

An inclosed fused switch embodying the present invention is similar in some respects to that disclosed in my copending application for Inclosed fused switch, Serial No. 206,733

filed on even date herewith, and some of the features of the switch herein disclosed are claimed broadly in the said application.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, together with a variation thereof as to certain details, but it will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an inclosed fuse switch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the switch shown in Fig. 1 the rear part being shown in elevation and the front part being shown in transverse section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in different relative positions.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the interlocking slide.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are front, side and bottom views respectively of the guide plate for the slide.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 5 but showing an alternate embodiment of the invention.

As concerns the details of the cabinet to which the invention may be applied. I do not narrowly limit myself but in order to clearly illustrate the invention I have shown an inclosing cabinet 1 of conventional form having a back wall 2. side walls 3 and 4, top and bottom end walls 5 and 6, and a front wall 7. Ordinarily and referably the front wall 7 is in the form of an opcnable cover pivoted at 8, 8 to one of the walls as for instance the bottom end wall 6. The cover may be held in closed position by means of Match 9. The front wall 7 whether constructed in the form of an openable cover or otherwise has an opening such as 10 therein.

Mounted within the cabinet is a fused switch mechanism so arranged that the fuse contacts are accessible from the exterior of the cabinet through the opening 10 when the cover is closed and so arranged that the switch parts are inaccessible through the. said opening when the cover'is closed. The details of the fused switch mechanism may be widely varied and I do not limit myself to a fused switch mechanism of any particular form. However, for the purpose of clearly illustrating the invention I have shown a fused switch of the type disclosed in my copending appl cation for Electric circuit controlling appl1-' ance, Serial No. 165,645 filed Feb. 3, 1927. The fused switch as shown comprises a base 11 of insulating material which is so mounted within the cabinet as to close the opening 10 in the front cover. Carried by the base 11 ,at thefront thereof are pairs of fuse receiving contacts such as 12, 12 these contacts being accessible from the exterior of the cabinet through the opening 10.

The switch mechanism within the cabinet comprises stationary switch contacts 13 and 14 some of which may be electrically connected with the respective fuse contacts 12,12. In addition to the stationary switch contacts 13 and 14 the switch comprises movable contacts 15 and 16 carried by a rectilinearly movable insulating element 17.

I provide an operating means for the switch a mechanism which includes a handle on the exterior of the cabinet, this handle being adjacent one side wall of the cabinet, as for instance, the side wall 4 and being movable ,parallelly therewith. As illustrated there is a switch operating spindle 18 having a cranked portion 19 which extends into aislot 20 formed in the insulating element 17 of the switching member. The spindle 18 is mounted in bearing apertures in the side walls 3 and a of the cabinet and it terminates in a handle 21 movable as already described parallelly with the side wall 4 of the cabinet.

When the handle 21 is in the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 the switch is in closed position. When the handle is moved to the position shown by dotted lines shown in Fig. 2 the switch is in open position. Preferably a stop device 22 is provided for limiting the movement of the handle 21.

In order to normally close the opening 10 in the front wall of the cabinet so as to prevent access therethrough to the fuse contacts, there is provided an auxiliary cover which is preferably pivotally mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the front wall or main cover 7 and in fixed relation thereto. Preferably the auxiliary cover is movable about a pivotal axis which is vertical but as to this I do not necessarily limit myself. As shown the auxiliary cover is in the form of a fiat plate 23 slightly larger than the opening 10 in the main cover. It is hinged to the main cover at 24., 24. V

In accordance with the invention I provide an interlocking means in the form of a laterally movable slide 25 011 the main cover having a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the switch handle when the latter is in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement. The details of the cover and slide are clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The slide has an opening 26 which is somewhat larger than the opening 10 in the v main cover and which registers with the said opening when the slide is in normal position.

Preferably the slide has a forward offset portion 27 which extends over the auxiliary cover and in which the opening 26 is formed. The

guide plate'29 is provided with an opening 30 which registers with the opening 10 in the main cover, this opening preferably being of the same size as the opening 26 in the slide. The auxiliary cover is normally behind the plane of the guide plate and upon being opened it moves through the said openings 26 and 30 in the slide and guide plate respectively.

As already stated the slide 25 has two positions, one of which has been referred to as a normal position and the other of which has been referred to as a laterally projecting position. When the slide is in its normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the auxiliary cover 23 is located in part behind the slide 25 and the slide therefore prevents the opening of the said cover. However, when the slide 24 is moved to its laterally projecting position as I shown in Fig. 5 the auxiliary cover 23 is free to be opened outward through the said open. ing 26'a1'1d 30 to the open position shown by dot-and-dash lines. The pivotal axis for the cover 23 is at the right, that is, at the side adjacent the projecting position of the slide 25. It will therefore be clear from an inspection of Fig. 5 that when the cover 28' is open or partly open the main body of the cover directly engages the slide at the edge 31 of the opening 26. open, prevents movement of the slide to its normal position.

It will be observed that, when the slide 25 is in its normal position with the auxiliary cover locked in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it is obstructed by the switch operating handle 21 when the said handle is in its switch closing position. However, when the handle 21 is moved to its switch opening position as Thus the cover itself, when when the cover 23 is closed to prevent access to the fuse contacts.

For convenience in moving the slide and cover they are provided respectively with knobs 32 and 33. In order to definitely limit the movements of the slide 25 suitable stops are provided. Movement toward the left beyond its normal positon is prevented by a downward turned flange 34 at the right hand end. Movement toward the right beyond its proper projecting'position is prevented by means of stop lugs 36 and 37 formed on the slide and on the guide plate respectively. The slide may be provided with an extension 38 having a hole therein for a sealing wire and the flange of the main cover may have a similar hold at 39, so that if desired the slide may be sealed in its cover closing position.

Preferably in order to provide amore positive locking of the auxiliary cover 1n closed position the said cover is provided with oppositely' projecting ears 40, 40 and the openings 26 and 30 in the slide and guide plate respectively are provided with oppositely extending notches 41, 41 and 42, 42 which the ears 40, 40 are adapted to register. From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be obvious that when the auxiliary cover is in its closed position and the slide is in its normal position the cars 40, 40- are behind portions 43, 43 of the slide thus making the locking of the cover more effective.

It will be observed that, in the absence of a special means for preventing it, it might be possible for the ears 40, 40 of the auxlllary cover to lie on the outside of the portions 43, 43 of the slide instead of on the inside as, shown. With the said ears 40, 40 on the outside a limited amount of the slide could be effected before the edge 31 on the slide is brought int-ofirm engagement with the main body of the cover. With rough usage it might be possible to so bend or distort the parts as to permit the slide to be moved far enough to free the handle 21. To avoid this possibility I prefer to provide supplemental means for preventing any lateral movement of the slide except when the cover is fully closed so that the ears 40, 40 will pass behind the portions 43, 43 of the slide.

I have shown a supplemental means forthis purpose consisting of rearward extending be moved only when the cover is in its comly open as shown by full lines the flanges 44, 44 will interfere with the slide at the right hand edges of the notches 41, 41. If the cover is still further opened the main body of the cover will interfere with the slide at the right hand edge 31 of the opening 26 as already described.

Fig. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention. The construction is in the main similar to that already described and repetition of the description is unnecessary. The construction shown in Fig. 11 difi'ers primarily in the provision of a connecting means between the slide and the auxiliary cover for opening the cover when the slide is moved to its projecting position and for moving the slide to its normal position when the cover ismoved to its closed position. The connecting means preferably comprises a coil spring connected at its ends to the slide and the auxiliary cover respectively.

The connecting spring is shownat 46, this being connected to the slide by means of a forward projecting eye 47 and being connected to the auxiliary cover by means of a forward projecting eye 48 which takes the place of the knob 32 alreadydescribed. The guide plate 29 may be provided with a notch 49 to permit the eye 47 to be moved laterally to the position shown by full lines.

The full lines in Fig. 11 show the cover in its open position and the slide in its projecting position. It will be understood that the slide is moved to its projecting'position by means of the knob 33 and that the spring 46 serves to automatically move the auxiliary cover 23 to its open position as soon as it is released by the slide. Then it is desired to close the cover it is merely necessary to manually move the cover directly to its closed position as shown by dotted lilies in Fig. 11,

effected by a single manual motion, that is,

by moving the cover itself directly to its closed position.

It will be understood that such terms as vertical, horizontal, lateral and the like as used herein describe the relationship of parts when device is in its normal upright position as shown and described. I do not, however, limit myself to the use of the device in this exact position.

What I claim is:

1. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main cover, a transversely movable slide on the cover having a normal posltion 1n which it 1s d1- "rectly obstruct-ed by the handle when in 2. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fusecontacts and a switch within; the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main cover, and a transversely movable slide on the cover having a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle. when in a switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, the said slide when in its normal position engaging the. auxiliary cover to hold 7 it in closed position and upon movement to its laterally projecting position being disengaged from the said cover and the said auxiliary cover when open directly engaging the slide to prevent the movement thereof from its laterally projecting position to its normal position.

3. In an inclosed fused switch, the'combination of a cabnet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch op-. erating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main cover,

a transversely movable slide on the cover having anormal position in which it is directly obstructed bythe handle when in switch closing position and having a laterall projecting position m which it directly 0 structs the handle against switch closing movement, the said slidev when in its normal position engaging the auxiliary cover to hold it in closed position and upon movement to its laterally projecting position being disengaged from the said cover and the said auxiliary cover when open directly engaging the slide to prevent the movement thereof from its laterally projecting position to its normal position, and means supplemental to the direct engagement of the body of the cover with the slide for also preventing the last said movement thereof except when the cover is fully closed.

4. In an inclosed fused switch, the combio nation of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch op-- 3 crating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivoted at the side thereof adjacent the handle for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main cover, the said cover having upward and downward extending ears adjacent the side thereof opposite said pivotal axis, a transversely movable slide on the cover having a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, the said slide having extensions adjacent the top and bottom thereof engaging the said'ears ,of the auxiliary cover to hold it in closed position when the slide is in its normal position and being disengaged from the said ears upon movement to its laterally projecting position, and means for preventing the movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position when the auxiliary cover is open or partly open.

tion of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivoted at the side thereof adjacent the handle for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main coverthe said cover having upward and downward extending ears adjacent the side thereof .opposite said pivotal axis, a transversely movable r 5 slide on the cover having a normal position in which 1t is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and hav ing a laterally projecting position in which it directly obs ructs the {handle against 1] O 5. In an inclosed fused switch, the combinaswitch closing movement, the said slide having extensions adjacent the top and bottom thereof engaging the said ears of the auxiliary cover to hold it in closed position when the slide is in its normal position and being disengaged from the said ears upon movement to its laterally projecting position, and the said auxiliary cover when open directly engaging the slide to prevent the movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position, and rearward extensions on the said ears for also preventing the last said movement of the slide except when the cover is fully closed.

6. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, a fiat guide plate spaced from the front of the main cover and having an opening registering with the cover opening, a laterally movable slide between the main cover and the guide plate having a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening normally located behind the plane of the guide plate and connected with the main cover for movement about a pivotal axis in fixed relation to the main cover, the said auxiliary cover being openable through the guide plate opening when the slide is in its laterally projecting position, means serving when the cover is open to prevent movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position, and locking means engaging the auxiliary cover to hold it in closed position when the slide is in its normal position, the said means being disengaged from the cover upon movement of the slide to its laterally projecting position.

7. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with, an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessiblethrough Y the said opening when the cover is closed, a

switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, a flat guide plate spaced from the front of the main cover and having an opening registering with the cover opening and provided with notches at its top and bottom sides, a laterally movable slide between the main cover and the guide plate having a nor- -mal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening normally located behind the plane of the guide plate and connected with the main cover for movement about a vertical pivotal axis in fixed relation to the main cover, the said auxiliary cover being openable through the guide plate opening when the slide is in its laterally projecting position and having 0ppositely positioned ears movable through the notches in the guide plate, means serving when the cover is open to prevent movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position, and locking means engaging the said ears to hold the auxiliary cover in closed position when the slide is in its normal position, the said means being disengaged from the ears upon movement of the slide to its'laterally projecting position.

8. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, a flat guide plate spaced from the front of the main cover and having an opening registering with the cover opening and provided with notches at its top and bottom sides, a laterally movable slide between the main cover and the guide plate having anormal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, an'auxiliary cover for the main cover opening normally located behind the plane of the guide plate and connected with the main cover for movement about a vertical pivotal axis in fixed relation to the main cover, the said auxiliary cover being openable through the guide plate opening when the slide is in its laterally projecting position and having oppositely positioned ears with rearward turned flanges thereon movable through the notches in the guide plate, means engaging the said flanges when the cover is partly open to prevent movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal, position, and locking means engaging the said ears to hold the auxiliary cover in closed position when the slide is in its normal position, the said means being-disengaged from the ears upon movement of the slide to its laterally projecting position.

9. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an opening in the front wall thereof, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening, a switch operating handle outside of the cabinet, an openable cover for the said opening, p

4 switch locking osition and open the cover.

10. In an inc osed fused switch, the combi- J nation of a cabinet having an openable main cover withan opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch-within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when the cover is closed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an

auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to the main cover, a transversely movable slide on the cover havmg a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch closing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the handle against switch closing movement, the said slide when in its normal position engaging the auxiliary cover to hold it in' closed 7 position and upon movement to its laterally projecting position being disenga ed from the cover, means for preventing t e movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position when the auxnecting means between the sli iliary cover is open or partly open, and a conand the auxiliary cover for opening the cover when the slide is moved to its projecting position and for moving the slide to it's normal position when the cover is moved to its closed position.

11. In an inclosed fused switch, the combination of a cabinet having an openable main cover with an opening therein, fuse contacts and a switch within the cabinet respectively accessible and inaccessible through the said opening when thecover isclosed, a switch operating handle adjacent one side wall of the cabinet and movable parallelly therewith, an auxiliary cover for the main cover opening pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis in fixed relation to'themain cover, a transversely movable slide on the cover having a normal position in which it is directly obstructed by the handle when in switch clos-' ing position and having a laterally projecting position in which it directly obstructs the han- I dle against switch closing'movement, the said slide when in its normal position engaging the auxiliary cover to hold it'in closed position upon movement to its laterally projecting position being disengaged from the cover, means for preventing the movement of the slide from its laterally projecting position to its normal position when the auxiliary cover is open or partly open, and a coil spring connected at its ends to the slide and the auxiliary -coverrespectively and serving for-opening the cover when the slide is moved to its provjecting position and for moving the slide to its normal position when the cover is moved toits closed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of July, 1927. JOSEPH SACHS. 

